High school redesign taking shape at H.J. Cody

Thebellrings.Student’sofH.J.CodyHighSchoolexittheirfirstclassoftheday.Insteadofheadingtotheirnextassignedclass–studentsmustnowmake a choice.

Forthenext45minutesstudentsmustaskthemselveswhatsubjecttheyfeeltheyneedextrahelpwith.Studentsmusttakechargeoftheirownlearning and decide forthemselveshowtheywillspendthisblockofdaily‘personalizedlearningtime’.Administrationasksstudentstouseacomputerorsmartphone in the morningbeforeschooltosignupforwhichteachertheyfeelwillbestassisttheminthatblockoftimeandareexpectedtobeaccountablefor their own choices.

“Ifyourememberbacktoatimeyouhadtolearnsomething–maybeyougotitrightawayormaybeyoucould’veusedmoretimewithyourteacher,” said Elwood.“PersonalizedLearningTimeallowsstudentstospendthetimewheretheyneeditmost.Kidsareseeinglearninginadifferentwayandit’s giving them thetimetheyneedtoseetheteacherstheyneedtoseewithouthavingtostayafterschoolortakeupboththeir’sandtheteacher’slunchbreaks.”

Elwoodaddedinadditiontothetimetablechangeandadditionofthepersonalizedlearningtime,HighSchoolRedesignalsoincludesachangeinthe‘culture of theschool’.